Image credit: CFJC Today/Anthony Corea

By Marty Hastings

GOLFING FOR A CAUSE

Greene Raine talks hope for a cure, loss of husband at ALS Golf Tournament of Hope

Aug 15, 2025 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Nancy Greene Raine was among those who took part in the 17th annual ALS Golf Tournament of Hope on Friday (Aug. 15) at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops.

The fundraiser hits close to home for Greene Raine, the Olympic skiing champion and former Canadian senator who lost her husband – Al Raine, the former mayor of Sun Peaks – to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in December.

“It affects a lot more people than most of us realize,” Greene Raine said. “At any one time, there’s only 4,000 people in Canada that have it. But when you talk to somebody, everybody knows someone who’s had ALS and died. As Al said, it’s a very exclusive club, but the membership doesn’t last long.”

“Many of the people here have been touched by ALS and to share with them, to talk to them … all of us want to support more research to find a cure.”

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ALS Society of BC executive director Donald Miyazaki said about $750,000 has been raised through the tournament over the past 16 years. He said 30 per cent of the haul stays in Kamloops to fund communication equipment such as iPads for the ALS-afflicted in the city.

“It’s a great day to be out on the golf course, but the funds that are raised there are vital,” he said. “It can cost up to $160,000 for somebody to fight the disease in equipment alone.”

Miyazaki and Greene Raine both spoke optimistically about the ALS BC Project Hope research centre that opened last year in Vancouver, noting top scientific minds are at work searching for a cure.

“It’s a one-stop-shop where we will have clinical trials that occur right here in B.C.,” Miyazaki said.

At the tournament, pictures of lost loved ones are worn on T-shirts and featured on signs posted across the course.

“We have 100 participants this year and most of them have a connection with ALS,” Miyazaki said. “It’s sad that they have this connection, but it’s also a chance for them to celebrate and gather with others who’ve experienced the same thing.”

Greene Raine fondly remembers her final days with Al.

“You don’t know how much time you have, but we had a good eight months and it didn’t affect his ability to ski or play tennis or golf and do the things we loved to do together,” she said. “And we talked a lot. And I was ready when he died. The last message from him – he was having to write it by this point – was go skiing, stay social. So I can deal with it.

“It’s tough when you miss your best friend as well as your husband and we did a lot of things together, so I miss him.”